Fluorescent bed lamp



Jan. 19, 1943. J. F. LIVERS FLUORESCENT BED LAM]? Filed Aug. 2, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 JOHN LIV ERJ' INVENTOR 4% OR EY 1943. 1.1. F. LIVERS FLUORESCENT BED LAMP Filed Aug. 2, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fl 6 l5 Fl G. (3

JOHN F. LIVERI INVENTOR TTORNEY FIG.9

Patented Jan. 19, 1943 T UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE John F. Livers, Decatur, m, assig'nor to Fairies Manufacturing Company, DecaturJlL, acorporation of Illinois Application August 2, 1940, Serial Ni). 349,447

' whims (01.2404 )1 My invention relates more particularly to that class of lamps designed to be detachably secured to a bed or other piece of furniture. It willbe apparent from the hereinafter contained descrip; tion that its use is notlimited to that particular The production of the fluorescent type of light source and its general acceptance by the public has produced a demand for a construction which wo d make possible the use of such a light source whi would be available to supply-light to beds, pianos, stoves, pictures, writing desks, etc.

It has, however, on account of the size and proportion of the light source and the accessories,

reflectors, etc. required, been found impractical because of such size. Moreover-even if size were not objectionable they are so unsightly that the public has been unwilling to accept them to any extent.

The principal object of my invention is to protime a construction for a lamp, of the type referred to, which will be compact, thus overcoming the objection as to size and which will be sufiiciently ornamental to meet with the approval greater than that of the source itself, while the mounted on or secured to it, and extend radially total length of the unit is approximately one inch more than the light source.

A further object is to control the volume of light from the source to such an extent it may be totally closed off if desired.

tion of the two cylindrical sleeves l1 and I8, so

A further object isto direct the light rays any desired direction.

My means of accomplishing the foregoing objects may be more readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawings which are Fig. 1 is a top or plan view with the sleeves,

supporting ferrules, and end housings, shown in section;

Fig. 21s a detail view taken in cross-section of the same;

Fig. 3 is a cross-section of the switch housing and clamp bracket on line A-A looking in the I I of the tubes 28 and 2|,are threaded into a directions of the arrows in Fig. 4;

' sleeve l1 and I2, respectively. These sleeves may Fig. 4 is an end elevation of the same;

5 is an end elevation of same looking at the opp'ositeend from Fig. 4;

Fig.6isasectiononlineB-BinFig3in the direction indicated by the arrows;

'l is a detail plan view of the lower clamping member;

rigaisasectiqn taken onthelineC-C looking in the directions of the arrows in Fig.7; Fig. 9-is an end elevation of the same;

Fig. 10"is a front view of one of the end housings;

Fig. 11 is a section on line 11-22 looking in the directions of the arrows in Fig. 10;

Fig. 12 is a section looking in the directions of the arrows oniine D-D in Fig. 10; o n

Fig. 131s an end elevation, of the housing shown in Fig. 10;

Fig. 14 is a plan view of one of thesupporting ferrules; and

Fig. 15 is a cross-section of the same. Similar 5 reference numerals'refer to similar parts throughout the entire specification.

As shown in the drawings the lamp comprises ggia fluorescent tube I, which is supported by sockets II and I2, of standard construction.

Mounted upon the base portions II and I2 of tube III, are ferrules l3 and I4. I form annular seats l5 and ii, in these ferrules .in which are rotatably mounted the ends of an inner and outer be formed of plastic or other material as desired. The sleeves ii and I8, are provided with longitudinal slots I! and 20. Preferably one edge of each slot .has a longitudinal flange 2l22,

from the lamp. These flanges 2| and 22, preferably extend the lengthof the slots l9 and 20, but their ends are spaced from theferrules l3 and I4. It also provides for convenient rotaas to direct the light rays through the opening formed by the slots l9 and 20, in the'desired direction. The ferrules and sockets are enclosed in right and left housings 23 and 24, which preferably are formed of plastic material and arrangedto completely enclose them. As these housings are identical except that they are right and left, I shall only describe one of them.

I form a circular recess25, in which is mounted 21 of tubes 2| and 29, which space the housings 23 and 24, the required distance. The other ends center fitting 3|, which forms the clamp employed to secure the lamp in the desired location on the piece of furniture. The tubes 28 and 29, serve as conduits for electric wires 32 and 33, which run to a switch 34. The switch 34, is provided with the usual button 34' to close the contact between the wires 32 and 33 and wires 50 and which lead to a suitable source of electric current supply (not shown). The starter switch 34 is used in lieu of the conventional manua1 switch and glow type starter and is constructed with two sets of contacts. A partial turn of the switch supplies current momentarily to heat the electrodes or filaments. This action provides the electronic discharge necessary to start the lamp. Continuing the turn of the switch cuts ofi? the initial current to the electrodes and then supplies the high voltage surge starting the arc and normal lamp operation. The switch 34, is enclosed in a housing 35, the side walls 36 of which form a part of theclamp. It is thus clear that I bring together in a compact unit at the switch location 4 leads from the switch andfrom the sockets and 2 from the line feed, requiring five splices. The, top of the housing 35, extends outwardly, forming an extended portion 31, the under surface of which is formed with a rabbet 38. The rabbet is adapted to receive a rib 39, formed on the top of one side of the horizontal portion of an angular member M, which is fitted thereto and which serves to align the two parts. A set screw 42, is mounted in the side 39, and is slidable in'a slot 43, formed in the extension 31. This permits the clamp to be adjusted to flt almost any thickness of the piece of furniture to which the lamp is to be clamped. A set screw 44, is mounted in the vertical portion 45, of the angular member II for the purpose of ensuring a definite tight adjust ment to the furniture.

It will be clear from the foregoing that my construction is made possible by the fact that the fluorescent light source does not, generate any appreciable heat.

Although I have described with some detail specific forms for the various parts of my improvement, they are formulated solely for illustrative purposes and I do not desire to be understood as being ,limited thereto exceptas such limitations may appear in the hereinafter appended claims.

Having described r'ny invention what I regard as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a lamp of the character described having a fluorescent light source and sockets which support said light source, a cylindrical sleeve surrounding said light source and contiguous thereto, a second sleeve surrounding the first named sleeve and contiguous thereto and rotatable thereon, a molded cap or ferrule mounted on each base portion of said light source, there being annular seats in said caps or ferrules, said sleeves being rotatably mounted in said seats, each sleeve having a longitudinal slot extending therethrough, a longitudinal flange formed on one edge of the slot opening in each sleeve, the ends of said flanges being spaced from said caps or ferrules.

2. In a lamp of the character described having a. fluorescent light source and sockets which support said light source, housings for the said sockets, said housings having threaded apertures in one side thereto, tubes mounted therein which space said housings and serve as conduits for electric wires, a clamp mounted on the other end of said tubes, adapted to clamp said lamp in position, one wall of said clamp consisting of a housing and a switch in said housing.

3. In a lamp of the character described having a fluorescent light source, and sockets which support said light source, a pair of molded plastic ferrules or caps, mounted on base portions of said light source, an inner and outer sleeve of equal arcuate extension, each having a longitudinal slot extending therethrough rotatably mounted in said ferrules or caps, there being a longitudinal registering slot in said sleeves and means to clamp said lamp in a desired location. 4. In a lamp of the character described having a fluorescent light source, sockets which support said light source, an inner and outer sleeve of equal arcuateextension surrounding said light source and contiguous thereto, said sleeves having registering longitudinal slots extending therethrough, means to rotatably mount said sleeves on base portions of said lamp and means to clamp said lamp in a desired location.

5. In a lamp of the character described having a fluorescent light source, sockets which support said light source, an inner and outer sleeve surrounding said light source and contiguous thereto, said sleeves having registering longitudinal slots extending therethrough, means to rotatably mount said sleeves on base portions of said lamp, means to house said sockets, a center fitting comprising a housing which forms part of a clamp, an electric switch therein, tubes which connect said housing to the center fitting, said tubes serving to space said socket housing in proper position and serving as conduits for electric wires.

6. A clamp for a fluorescent lamp of the type described comprising, a downwardly depending casing. an electric starting and lighting switch together with essential wiring for said fluorescent lamp housed in said depending casing, said casing having a laterally-extended portion at its top, an adjustable angular member fitted to said extension. means to lock said adjustment in a predetermined position, means cooperating with said angular member to rigidly support'said lamp when in position and means projecting from said casing to support said fluorescent lamp.

7. A clamp for a fluorescent lamp having means projecting therefrom to support said lamp comprising a downwardly depending casing, an electric starting and lighting switch together with essential wiring for said fluorescent lamp housed in said depending casing, said casing having a laterally extended portion at its top there being a slot therein and a rabbet in the underside thereof, adjustable angular member fitted to the rabbet in said extension, means slldably mounted in said slot to lock said angular member in a predetermined position, and means cooperating with said angular member to rigidly support said lamp when in position.

JOHN F. mvaas. 

